Carrier operating mechanism for flat knitting machines



July 25, 1939. F. c. GOOD 2,167,478

CARRIER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES July 25, 1939. F. c. GOOD CARRIER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 7, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 VVTH'VV z.. \u JR .VN MIN NN 0\ d. Nm

ON www F. C, GOOD July 25, 1939.

CARRIER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1935 l/ v n w m fw F. C. GQOD CARRIER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 25, 1939.

Filed May '7, 1935 F. C. GOOD y July 25, 1939.

CARHIERIOPERATING MECHANISL. FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May '7, 1935 '7 Sheets-She-el 5 foga.

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F. C. GOOD July 25, 1939.

CARRIER OPERATING'MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 7, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 25, 1939.

F. c. GOOD 2,167,478

CARRIER OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 7, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented July 25, 1939 PATENT oFFicE' CARRIER OPERATING 'MECHANISM FOB FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Frederick C. Good, Philadelphia, Pa. Application May 7, 1935, Serial No. 20,282

zo claims. The present application constitutes a continuation in part of my prior application Serial No.-

735,081, flied July 13, 1934.

'This invention relates to at' knitting machines which are provided with a multiplicity of independently operable thread carrier bars; and particularly to a simple and efficient attachment for selecting and operating, singly and in predetermined order or succession, a plurality of said bars, whereby the bars will respectively control and lay to the needles of the knitting machine a plurality of separate threads drawn from separate cones of the same kind, color and texture of yarn to be knit into successive courses of stitches with no two immediately succeeding courses composed of thread drawn from the same cone, in order to reduce to a minimum, especially in mens, womens and childrens silk hosiery or in other sheer silk knitted fabrics, the formation of the objectionable rings or shadows which are frequently produced by reason of immediately succeeding courses being composed of a single thread having a relatively thick portion of sufficient continuous length to produce two or more courses of stitches in succession.

The attachment constituting the subject matter of the present invention is applicable to any of the well-known makes of full fashioned hosiery knitting machines of the Cotton type, including'the Reading and other domestic and foreign machines.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation through a suiicient portion of a Reading machine to illustrate the attachment of the present invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the attachment and the thread carrier bars;

Fig, 3 is a plan view;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the thread bars in section; f

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the narrowing mechanism of the knitting machine showing means for synchronizing certain elements of the mechanism of the attachment with the narrowing mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic front elevation of another form of mechanism for eecting synchronization of the devices;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a modified form of plunger head;

(CL (i6-127) Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the head shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the head shown in Fig. 9;

12 is a plan view of the head shown in Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line I3I3, Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 with the two portions of one of the twin plungers in relatively diflerent positions;

Fig. l5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line III-I5, Fig. 9;

Fig. 16 is a sectional plan View taken on the line lli-I6, Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation of another modifled form of plunger head with twin plungers therein and separate means for operating the twin plungers independently;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of a modified form of selector head-operating mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the mechanism shown inFig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 2li-20, Fig. 18

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mechanism for operating the pawls for the double star wheels shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 22-22, Fig. 21; and

Figs. 23 to 34 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of that form of head ,shown in Fig. 17.

The attachment, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, comprises a main guide-bar, track, or slideway 20 which is adapted to be secured to any suitable and convenient rigid portion oi a at knitting machine, such for example as the center bed of a Reading machine, indicated at I9 on Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the guide 20 is supported from the bed I9 by a bracket or brackets 2| which may be formed integral with the guide or secured in any suitable manner thereto. The guide 20 is mounted in substantially parallel relation to the bed I9 and to the multiplicity of thread carrier bars of the machine, which are indicated at I to 1 inclusive.

Slidably mounted in the guide 20 is a cross head 22. 'I'he cross head 22 is provided with a lateral extension 23 which overhangs the carrier bars I to 1, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

'I'he bars I, 2. 3, etc. are normally provided with operating dogs Ia, 2a, 3a respectively, each dog having a notch or recess Ib, 2b, 3b, etc., for the reception of one end of a slide III which is carried by the ordinary friction box II. The box II frictionally grips and moves with the ordinary friction box drive rod I2. The drive rod I2 forms part of the Coulier motion of the machine and receives a uniform axial movement.

The longitudinal movement of the carrier bars I to 1 is normally less than that of the drive rod and is'controlled by stops at the opposite ends respectively of the machine. The end stops are movable toward and away from each other, to widen or narrow and thereby shape the fabric, through the medium of a narrowing screw I3 at each end of the machine.

Each narrowing screw I3 is provided with a ratchet wheel I4 operable by a pawl I5 which is pivotally mountedon a link I6, the link I5 in turn being pivotally connected to one end of an arm I1 which is pivotally mounted at I8 to a fixed portion of the frame of the machine.

The arm I1, in each case, receives an oscillating motion from the main cam shaft 9, when the cam shaft is shogged axially in the usual manner at such time as the fabric is to be shaped at its edges, by a cam 8 xed to said cam shaft and engaging a cam follower Ila rotatably mounted on the arm I1.

In the present instance, instead oi manually connecting each carrier bar to a separate friction box II, as -required in the ordinary knitting, a single friction box II with its connecting slide Ill is connected to the cross head 22 for operating any one of the carrier bars I to 1 which may be selected in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

'I'he connection between the friction box I I and the cross head I2 may be made in any suitable manner, according to the particular machine to which the attachment may be applied. In the present instance, in applying the attachment to the "Reading" type of machine, the connection between the friction box II and the cross head 22 may conveniently be made by providing in the overhanging extension 23 of the cross head 22 a suitable recess 24 for the reception of the one end of the connecting slide I0, said recess being clearly illustrated in Fig.'3.

From the above, it will be obvious that with the carrier-bar end stops set in predetermined relation to each other at the opposite ends of the machine and with the drive rod I2 receiving longitudinal reciprocal-.ion in the usual manner any one of the carrier bars, I to 1, which may be attached to the cross head 22 will receive a longitudinal movement in accordance with the setting of the end stops of the machine, surplus movement of the drive rod I2 being taken up by said drive rod sliding through the frictionbox II in the usual manner.

The present invention particularly concern the mechanism by which the carrier bars are selectively connected to the cross head 22 and for this purpose the cross head 22 is provided with a series of longitudinally slidable plungers 3|, 32, 33, etc., which are adapted to have their lower ends respectively and selectively projected into the recesses lb, 2b, 3b, etc. of-the carrier bars I, 2, 3, etc., in a predetermined sequence.

While any suitable number of the carrier bars I to 1 may be employed for laying separate threads to the needles for knittingimmediate succeeding courses in a predetermined order, it has been found that rlngless or shadowless knitting may be accomplished by the use of but three separate threads, therefore, the following description will be directed to the use of the rst three thread carrier bars of the machine, namely I, 2 and 3 respectively.

'Ihe plungers 3|, 32 and 33 which respectively connect the bars I, 2and 3 with the cross head 22 are slidably mounted in split bearings 35, 35, respectively. Each split bearing is composed of two identical portions or halves 35a and 35h and each of such sections is preferably provided with a groove 36 which, when the two halves 35a and 35h are placed together, with their' grooves facing each other, form a guide for slidably supporting the plunger 3l, 32 or 33 as the case may be for longitudinal movement perpendicular to the thread carrier bar with which the plunger is associated.

Each bearing 35 is provided with laterally extending lugs or ears 31 which rest on the upper surface of the cross head extension 23, the lower portions of the bearings 35 fitting snugly within a slot or recess 38 formed in said extension.

Above each of the carrier bars which is not to be selected for operation is a solid filler block 35e, or, if desired, the bearings 35 without plungers therein may be inserted in the slot 33 to illl the length of the slot, whereby all the bearings or the bearings and the illler blocks combined may be rigidly clamped in the extension 23 by an outer plate 40 which is secured to the outer edge of the extension 23 by means of clamp bolts or screws 39 (see Fig. 5). l

Each plunger 3|, 32, 33 is provided with ears or lugs 4I in superposed relation to the ears or lugs 31 of the bearing 35 and between the lugs 31 and 4i are compression springs 42 which normally tend to raise the plungers in their respective bearings to an elevation, clear of the operating dogs la, 2a, 3a, wherein a rib 43, formed on and projecting laterally from -the lower end of each plunger, engages the under side of the bearing 35 in which the plunger is mounted. Obviously, any form of spring or other resilient means may be provided for normally raising these plungers. In the present instance, each of the compression springs 4'2 has its lower end seated in a recess 44 formed in a bearing lug 31. The upper end of each spring encircles a pin 45 which is secured in and projects from and below each plunger lug 4I' whereby lateral displacement of the springs is prevented.

The plungers 3l, 32, 33 are adapted to be moved downwardly against the action of the springs 42 by cams 5I, l2 and 53 respectively. The

cams 5I, 52 and 53, in the present instance, are

set at 120 apart on a drive shaft 5l, whereby, as

'said shaft is rotated, for example in the direction of the arrow in Fig. '6, the plungers 3l, 32 and 33 will'be operated in the order named, to connect and disconnect the carrier bars I, 2 and 3 respectively to and from the cross head 22 in said predetermined sequence.

In order to set the cams for operating the plungers in any other desired order, each cam is provided with a single keyway 54 while the shaft 5l is provided with three keyways 55 set 120 apart, said keyways being adapted to receive a'key 55 individual to each of the cams whereby the cams are interchangeable longitudinally and circumferentially of the shaft.

The shaft is rotatably mounted, in the present instance, in legs 51 and 53 of a substantially U-shaped frame 55, said legs being connected by a back plate 53.' Adjacent one side .of the leg of the frame 55 the shaft 5I is provided with an`integral collar 5I and secured to the shaft 53 at the opposite side of the leg Il .is a

gear 62 which is pinned or otherwisesecured to said shaft, whereby axial ,movement of the shaft 50 in the frame 8l is prevented and whereby the cams 5|, 62 and I8 are normally maintained in operating alignment with the plungers 8|. 82 and 33 respectively. v

Mounted on the shaft Il between the last of the cams thereon and a clamp nut 88, which is threaded onto a reduced end 84 of the shaft, is a series of ller collars I la which are interchangeable-with the cams in the same manner as the cams are interchangeable one with another so that the cams may be selectively placed in operating alignment with any desired ones oi' the carrier bars l to 1 inclusive.

Meshing'with the gear 82 is a gear ,85 and secured to the gear 88 is a star wheel 86. In the present instance the star wheel 88 has three arms, in accordance with the three cams ll, 52 and Il. However, in instances where more than three cams are to be attached the star wheel 66 will correspondingly be provided with the same number of arms as there are operating cams on the shaft 50.

Intermittent rotation of the star wheel 88 will effect intermittent rotation of the shaft 58 and the cams thereon as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The gear wheel and the star wheel 88 are loosely mounted on one end of a shaft 61 which has one of its ends mounted in the upper portion 40a of the clamp plate 48 and its opposite end mounted in the upperl end of a bracket 6 8 which is secured to the cross head extension 28 in parallel relation to the clamp plate 40.

The shaft 81, adjacent one of its ends, is shouldered at 69 to bear against the outer side of the bracket 6 8 and at its opposite side is provided with a clamp screw 10 bearing against the opposite outer side of the bracket portion 40a of the clamp plate 40, to prevent axial movement of the shaft 61 in the said brackets.

The shaft 61 functionsas a pivot for the U- shaped frame 60, said frame being pivotally mounted for the purpose ofA swinging the cams 5|, 52, 53 to an inoperative position relative to the plungers 3|, 92, 88 to permit normal operation of the carrier bars to 1 inclusive when desired. The brackets 40 and 68 are provided with arcuate slots 1| to permit swinging movement of the frame 60 in one direction, swinging movement of said frame in the opposite direction being prevented by shoulders or abutments12 and 13 (see Fig. 3) formed in the brackets 40 and 68 respectively.

In order to move and maintain the frame 60 into and in the above noted inoperative position, the frame 60 is `provided with a handle Hand pivotally connected-to said handle is a springpressed latch 15 which is adapted to engage a transversely extending stud or rod 16 carried by either of or extending between the brackets 40 and 68.

In order to permit the tilting of the frame 60 the abutment shoulders 12 and 13 are cut away at an angle at their upper ends as indicated at 12a and 13a respectively.

The'latch 15 is provided with va finger-release, portion`115a adjacent the handle 14, as clearly. illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, for quick release ofthelatch.

Intermittent rotation of the star whee effected by means of abutments or trips 88' which are disposed respectively adjacent v fopposite ends ofthe reciprocatory movement. of

will receive a partial rotation of 120, thereby releasing the one plunger from the one bar and enecting engagement of another oi the plungers with another of the carrier bars, in accordance with the order of selection determined by the positioning of the cams on the shaft. Such 60"v movement of the star wheel 88 will cause one of the arms thereof to project vertically upward and, upon movement of the cross head 22 in the opposite direction, as the -bar then connected thereto approaches the ordinary end stop at the vright hand side of the machine, the then upwardly projecting arm of the star wheel will engage the trip or abutment 8|, thereby effecting a second 60 movement of the star wheel 88 and a corresponding 120 movement of the shaft 50, to release the lastly operated bar from the cross head and to connect another of the bars to said cross head. Such 60 movement of the star wheel again moves one of the arms thereof into the vertical downwardly extending position, to be engaged by the abutment stop 80 when the cross head again moves to the left.

The abutments 80 and 8| are pivotally mounted in guide blocks 82 and 88 respectively which in turn are carried by brackets 84 and 85 which extend laterally from control nuts 86 and 81 respectively. The control nuts 86 and 81 are slidably mounted, in the present instance, in a plate 88 which forms `a,cover for the guideway 20 in which the cross head 22 is slidably mounted, said plate 88 being secured to the guide bar 20 by screws or bolts 89 as shown in Fig. 4.

The nuts 86 and 81 'are respectively provided with outwardly flaring bases orfeet 90 and 9| which fit and are slidably mounted in a dovetailed groove 92 formed in the upper side of vthe plate l88. The nuts 86 and 81 are provided with axially aligned bores threaded right and left respectively, for the reception of right and left threaded portions 94 and 95 respectively of a control shaft 93.

The control shaft 93 is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 96 in Fig. 3, providing shoulders 91 and 98 which bear against the opposite sides of an anchor bearing 99. The bearing 99 is of the split block type having a ilared foot portion |00 fitting the dove-tailed groove 92 and a cap IUI secured to the foot |00 by bolts or screws |02 which pass completely through the cap |0| and foot |00 and are threaded into openings drilled and tapped in the base of the groove 92, whereby free rotation of the screw shaft 93 is permitted while axial movement thereof is prevented.

As the ordinary narrowing stops of the machine are moved relative to each other to shape the fabric being knit on the machine the travel of the thread carrier bars 'is determined accordingly,

"and in order to operate the star wheel 66 for selecting the carrier bars under the present inventlon at the extreme limit of travel of the car- I- rier bars as ilxed by the positions of the ordinary end stops, it is necessary that the trip stops 80 and 8| be moved in accordance with the end stops of the machine, and for this reason rotation of the screw shaft 03 is synchronized with the rotations of the ordinary narrowing screws of the machine.- This may be accomplished in any desired manner such as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 respectively.

In Fig. 7, for example, the screw shaft 33 is provided with a ratchet wheel |03. A pawlcarrying arm |04 is loosely mounted on the screw shaft 93 adjacent said ratchet wheel and carries a pawl |05 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The pawl arm |04 is operatively connected by a link |00, to one arm I01 of a bell-crank lever mechanism which, in the present instance, is pivotally mounted onto a bracket |09 formed on or secured to the guide 20. The second arm of the bell-crank lever |31 is connected by a link IIII to an arm III which is 4the roller I1a on the arm I1 for engagement with `a cam corresponding to and aligned with the cam on the main cam shaft 9 of the machine.

Therefore, when the cam shaft is shogged axially to effect narrowing and thereby eect operation of the ordinary narrowing screw I3 the levers I1 and III willbe oscillated simultaneously to operate the ordinary narrowing screw I3 and the screw shaft 03 respectively, whereby the ordinary narrowing nuts of the machine and the trip stops 30 and 0I of the attachment are simultaneously moved-toward each other.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. -8, the screw shaft 03 is provided with -an axial extension which in turn is provided at its outer end with a sprocket wheel II5. The sprocket wheelIIl is connected by a sprocket chain II3 with a sprocket wheel |I1 mounted on the end of the ordinary narrowing screw I3 at one end of the machine, in order that, as the narrowingscrew I3 is operated to reduce the travel of the thread bars, the screw shaft 93 is similarly operated to move the trip stops 30 and 3I inwardly accordingly.

If for any reason it should be desirable to knit successive courses of stitches with any one single thread, the trip stops 00 and 3| may be thrown out of operation into inoperative podtions shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, whereby the last selected carrier bar will continue to lay its thread to the needles until the stops are again placed in operating positions. As shown in Fig. 2, thevstop 30 swings upwardly into its inoperative position while the stop 3| swings downwardly.

In order to maintain the stop 3| in its operating position within the groove in the block 33 in which the stop is mounted a spring-pressed latch II3 is provided to bear against the end of the stop or to t into a notch formed in said end. The stop 33, resting in the base oi the groove of the block 32 in which it is mounted, requires no other means for maintaining it in its operating position.

With the present set-up of cams II, l2 and 33, let it be assumed that the carrier bars I and 3 are in the extreme right position with the carrier bar 2 in the extreme left position and that the cam 5I has depressed` plunger 3| to connect the bar I with the cross head 22. The drive rod I2 by moving to the left will carry the bar I therewith into the extreme left position, whereupon the shaft 50 by turning 120 will release ,carry the rod 3 into the extreme left position,

whereupon the rod 3 will be disconnected from the cross head 22 and the bar I will be reconnected to the cross head for reverse movement to a starting position at the extreme right. The drive rod I2 by again moving to the right will carry the rod I into the extreme right position, wherein the bar will be released and connec- ,tion will be made with the rod 2. Movement of the drive rod I2 to the left then carries the bar 2 in to the extreme left position, whereupon the bar 2 is disconnected and the bar 3 is again connected to be moved to the right by the next movement 'of the drive rod I2, to complete one cycle of operation of the attachment, wherein thread has been laid to the needles of the machine for the formation of six courses of stitches and wherein the thread controlled by each bar has been laid to the needles only for the formatlnn of each third course oi stitches.

A modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive and in Figs. 18 and 19 comprises a head |00, which in the present instance consists of the back wall, side walls and top plate |0I, |32, |33 and |34 respectively and which provide the cavity for the reception of a series of partition plates |30.

The partition plates |30 are each provided with longitudinal flanges |01 for spacing' the partition's lwith respect to each other and.with respect to the back wall III, to provide vertical guideways |33, for a plurality of twin plungers I03, III and III. Each of the twin plungers includes a right hand section Illa, |I3a, IIIa as the case may be. and a left hand section |00b, I|0b and IIIb as the case may be. Each twin plunger is provided with a centralized recess in its lower edge indicated at II2, formed half in one of the sections and half in the other of the sections, in each instance.

Ihe opposite lower corner edge of each section is beveled or inclined as illustrated at II3, in Fig. 13, the centralized recess II2 being adapted to receive` a dog III on one of the thread bars I, 2, 3, etc., with which the twin plungers are respectively aligned vertically, the-beveled corners II3 being provided to permit the one section to engage and ride up over the top of the thread bar dog, as illustrated in Fig. 14, whereby the vertical wall of the recess II2 in the other of the plunger sections may engage one of the vertical walls of the dog Ill, after which the previously raised section of the plunger will descend at the opposite side of the thread bar dog to oonne said dog within the recess I|2 for locking the thread bar to the head |00.

Each twin plunger is provided with a rectangular opening II3 formed half in one of the plunger sections and half in the other plunger section, in each instance.

Normally disposed in the opening I I5 is a cross bar II3 extending from side to side of the ope'ning III. Each cross bar Ill is provided with a pair of vertical rods II1a, I|1b which pass upwardiy through openings formed in the a and b sections of each twin plunger respectively and through the top plate |33.

.Above the top plate |04, the rods ||1a||1b are connected by a second cross bar II I8. Each of the twin plunger sections is provided with a spring |I9 having one end seated in a bore |20 formed in the upper end of the plunger section and its opposite end seated against a shouldered screw |2| threaded into and through the top plate |04, whereby the plunger sections are independently urged to move downwardly at all times.

Extending transversely through the openings II 5 in the several twin plungers and through corresponding openings formed in the two inner par-A titions I 06 and Journaled in the back plate I 0I and in the outermost partition |06 is a shaft |25 on which is mounted or 'formed integral therewith a series of cams or eccentrics 26, |21 and |28 which are disposed in the planes of the plungers |09, I| and III respectively, said cams being disposed at 120 apart about the axis of the shaft |25. These cams are adapted to engage the undersides of the cross bars I I 6 within the recess I| of the plungers |09, |I0 and III respectively.

Rotation of the shaft |25 in intermittent steps of 120 each will cause the cams thereon to lower the plungers |09, |I0 and III in succession for locking the thread bars I, 2 and 3 successively to the head |00, it being noted that there is but one plunger in the lowered thread bar engaging position at any one time, the other two plungers being maintained in an inactive raised position.

Rotation of the shaft |25 may be effected manually as in setting the device at the beginning of a cycle of its operation by a dial |20 secured to the shaft |25 adjacent the outermost partition plate I 06, said dial being provided with numbers corresponding to the thread bars I, 2 and 3 respectively and arranged to index with a pointer 3| on the outer partition plate |06 for indicating which of the plungers is in its lowered barengaging position.

After setting, the shaft |25 is adapted to be mechanically driven and automatically rotated by means of a pinion I 32 secured to or formed on the end of the shaft |25 outside the back wall I 0| of the head |00. The pinion |32vintermeshes with a gear I 33 which is rotatably mounted on a stud |34 xed to and projecting laterally from the back wall IOI. Freely rotatable on the stud I 34 and secured to the gear |33 is a three-point star wheel |35 which is adapted to be rotated in intermittent steps of 60 each as and by mechanism hereinafter described.

In order to raise all of the plungers to an inoperative position, the top plate |04 is provided with lugs I 36, |36 which provide bearings for a transversely extending shaft |31, said shaft being provided with a lateral extension |38 which, when said plungers are operating, is turned to a horizontal position by rotation of the shaft |31, but which, when it is desired to raise said plungers to an inoperative position, is turned to a substantially vertical position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 10, and whereby the outer edge of the blade or lateral extension |38 engages the undersides of the cross bars II8 and through the rods I|1a, I|1b and lower cross bars |I6 raises and maintains all of the plungers in an upper inoperative position. Turning of the shaft |31 is effected through means of the knob or buttery nut |39 formed on or secured to one end of the shaft |31.

The head |00 may be mounted on the slide 23 illustrated in Fig. 4, but` is preferably mounted on one end of one of the .ordinary friction boxes II which are slidably mounted on and arranged to frictionally griprthe friction box drive rod I2 of the machine.

vIn thez present instance, as illustrated in Figs.I 18, 19 and 20, a friction box Ila, is provided at one side with an elongated hub |40 on and to which is secured a sleeve I4I. Formed integral with the sleeve I4I is a bracket |42 to which the back wall |0I of the head |00 may be secured in any suitable manner. Also formed on the sleeve 4| is a bracket |43 provided witha guideway |44 for a slidebar I 45. The slide bar 45 is connected at one of. its ends to a second friction box IIb which, like the frictionv box IIa, is slidably mounted on the rod I2 and adapted to frictionally engage the same in the usual manner.

The slide bar |45 is provided with upper and lower pawls |46 and I 41 which project laterally from said slide bar and arranged to engage the points |48 of the star wheel |35 at opposite sides, that is, above and below the center of the stud |34, said pawls being so arranged and resiliently pressed outwardly by springs |49 that reciprocation of the bar |45 relative to the head |00 will effect intermittent rotation of the star wheel in one direction.

In operation, assuming that the twin plunger |09 is engaging the dog ||4 of the thread carrier rod I to lock said thread carrier rod to the head |00, movement of the rod I2 axially to the left will cause the head |00 and the rod I to move correspondingly until the end of the carrier rod engages one of the end stops of the machine, whereupon further movement of the head |00 will be arrested, the rod I2 thereafter sliding through the friction box I I a. However, the friction box IIb is still frictionally locked to land moving with the actuating rod I2' and causing a relative longitudinal movement of the slide bar |45 with respect to the head |00, whereby the pawl |46 is caused to engage the vertically projecting point |48 of the star wheel |35, such relative movement causing a 60 rotation of the star wheel |35 and gear wheel |33 which provides a 120 rotation of the pinion |32 and the shaft |25. Such rotation of the shaft |25 will cause a correspending movement of the cams |26, |21 and |28 thereon. Such movement of the cam or eccentric |26 raises the twin plunger |09 through the medium of its cross bar |I6 and causes the cam |21 to move into the position formerly occupied by the cam I 26, whereby the twin plunger I0 is lowered into position to grip the dog |I4 of lthe thread carrier rod 2, locking the same to the head |00 while the raising of. the plunger |09 disconnects the thread bar I from the head |00'.

The above noted 60 movement of the star wheel |35 causes one of the points |48 thereof to project vertically downward. As the bar I2 then moves in the opposite direction, it carries the thread bar 2 along with it until said bar engages the end stop at the right hand side of the machine which arrests the head. |00 and friction box Ia againstA further movement while the friction box IIb and slide bar |45 continue to travel with the actuating rod |2 which produces a relative movement between the slide bar |45 and the head |00 in a direction opposite to that formerly noted and causing the lower pawl I 41 to engage the then downwardly projecting point of the star wheel, causing said star wheel to turn to the extent of 60 by which the plunger ||0 is raised to release the thread bar2 and the plunger I II is lowered to engage the thread bar 3, the plunger |09 at the same time being retained in its upper inactive position.

The thread bar 3 on the next movement of the actuating rod I2 to the left is carried along with said actuating bar until it engages the left end stop of the machine, whereupon the star wheel is again actuated, causing a release of the thread bar 3 and a locking of the thread bar I to the head Ill for a return to its position at the right hand side of the machine. These operations carry on in this order throughout the knitting operation, bringing the thread bars I, 2 and 3 successively into operation for laying the threads controlled thereby to the needles of the knitting machine..

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 17 and 21 to 34 inclusive, the sections Illa, |0911; Illa, Illb; IIIa, and IIIb are-spread apart to an extent substantially equal to the width of the dogs IIl on the thread bars I, 2 and 3, and each of the partition plates Ill is provided with a central rib Illa extending from the lower edge of the plate to the lower edge of the opening |22 in the plate and from the top edge of said opening to the top edge of said plate,'whereby each of the twin plunger sections is mounted in an individual guideway Illa. In this instance, the head Illa is provided with a pair of transversely extending shafts passing through the openings |22 in the partition plates and the openings Ill in the plunger sections, said shafts being indicated at |250. and I25b. Each shaft is provided with three cams |2la, I2'Ia, I2la and |2811, I2'Ib and |281. Said shafts are respectively provided with pinions I32a and |3217 which mesh with gears I33a and |3317 respectively mounted on independent studs |34a and |3411 respectively.

Secured to the gears |33a and |331 are star wheels I3la and |351 respectively. In this case, the vertical rods IIIa and IIlb are secured to the twin plunger half sections respectively and are arranged to slide freely through cross bar I Ila which extends across the shaft |31, whereby as the shaft is turned all of the plunger sections are simultaneously raised to an inoperative position. In this case, as above described, the plunger sections are urged downwardly bythe springs I Il. The star wheels I35a and I35b are adapted to be turned in opposite directions by resilient pawls Illa and Illb arranged in a common plane adjacent the lower edges of the star wheels I35a, |3511, said pawls being carried by the slide bar Illa and so arranged that when the slide bar moves to the left relative to the head Illa, the pawl |4611 will turn the star wheel |3312 in one direction and through the gearing I33b-I32b turn the shaft |2517 to the extent of for operating the series of plunger sections Illb, II lb, II Ib.

When the slide bar Illa moves to the right relative to the head Illa, theA pawl Illa will engage the star wheel I35a,.giving it a 90 turn, and through the gearing I33a--I32a rotating the shaft I25a to the extent of 120 for operating the series of plunger sections Illa, IIla, IIIa.

Referring now to the diagrams in Figs. 23 to 34, assuming that No. 1 bar and No. 3 bar have been moved into contact with the end stops at the right hand side of the machine and No. 2 bar has been moved into contact with the end stop at the left hand side of the machine and that it is desired to move the bars in l--2-3 order, the plunger sections Illa, Illb are in locking engagement with the dog III on the thread bar' I. The friction box actuating rod I2 would then move to the left, carrying with it the head Ila and the thread bar I. f

When the thread barv I engages the left end stop of the machine, the shaft I25b is rotated end stop, the shaft |25a is actuated to raise the plunger section Illa and to lower the plunger section I IIa into engagement with the right hand side of the dog IIl on the thread bar 3. The plunger section II Ib having been previously lowered by a former rotation or the shaft |251. me'

bar I2 and head Illa then move to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 27, carrying with it the thread bar 3 until said thread bar engages the left hand end stop of the machine, whereupon the shaft |251) is rotated to raise the plunger section IIIb and to lower the plunger section Illb into engagement with Athe left side of thedog IIl on the bar I.

Movement to the right of the head Illa carries the thread bar I into its starting position and causes a rotation of the shaft |25a to release the plunger section Illa from the dog |I4 of the bar and to lower the plunger section Illa into engagement with the right side of the dog I Il on the bar 2, as shown in Fig. 31.

Movement of the head Illa to the left then carries the bar 2 to its starting position and causes the shaft |2511 to be rotated to raise the plunger section IIlb out of engagement with the dog of the bar 2 and to lower the plunger section IIIb into'engagement with the left side of the dog on the thread bar 3, as illustrated in Fig. 33. 'I'he next stroke of the friction box actuating rod I2 and the head Illa to the right brings the thread bar 3 into its original starting position, as shown in Fig. 34 and causes the plunger section IIIa to be raised to release the dog of the bar 3 and the plunger section Illa to be lowered to engage the dog of the bar I, as illustrated in Fig. 23 for the start of a repeat of the complete cycle just demribed.

The advantage of this form of the invention resides in the fact that in each direction of movement of the head Illa the bar moved by such movement of the head and the bar to be moved by the return stroke of the head are held firmly in engagement with the end stops of the machine preventing rebound of the one bar or creeping movement of the other bar while the slur cock is completing its sinker-projecting movement and during the stitch-forming operations of the machine and up until such time as the slur cock and thread guides begin a reverse movement relative to the bank of needles, which insures that the thread guides will not be acci-l dently moved into positions causing damage to needles or sinkers and further insuring that each bar in succession will be in the right position to be picked up by the reciprocating head Illa in its proper turn.

I claim:

l. In an attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to be snc'mva reciprocated by said frictlonally driven means parallel to said bars, a series of twin plungers each comprising a pairof independently movable se'cf tions slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, and means on said head for projecting and retracting said plunger sec' tions to and lfrom driving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence.

2. In an attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars', adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for recipro'cating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising ahead. adapted to be reciprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel to said bars, a series of twin plungers each comprising a pair of independently movablel sections slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, resilient means on said head for projecting said sections inde,- pendently into driving engagement with said bars, and positive acting means on said head for re.-

tractingl and withholding said sections from said and cam means on the head for retracting' and withholding said sections from said driving veli-- gagement in predetermined sequence.

4. In an attachment for a knittin'g'machin having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for refA ciprocating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to`b`e re`` ciprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel to saidV bars, a series of twin plungers each comprising a pair of opposed sections-independentlyand'slidably mounted infsaid head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said head adjacent the two series of plunger sections respecA tively, and a series of cams on each shaft for projecting said opposed plunger sections into driving engagement with said bars respectively and in predetermined sequence. I

5. In an attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicityof thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to Abe reciprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel to said bars, a series of Aplungers slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a shaft rotatably mounted on said head. adjacent said series of plungers, a series of cams on said shaft, and trip means including a star wheel on the head and a pair of abutments respectively cooperating with said star wheel adjacent the limits of reciprocation of the head for intermittently rotating said lcam shaft for projecting said plungers into driving engagement with said bars respectively'and in predetermined sequence.

6. In an attachment for a knitting machine having a. multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bai-s between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to be reciprocated by said trictionally driven means parallel to said bars, a series of twin plungers each comprising a pair of independent sections slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a shaft rotatably mounted on said head adjacent said series of.plungers, a series of cams on said shaft, and trip means including'a star wheel onthe head and a pair ofY abutments respectively cooperating with said vstar wheel adjacent the limits of reciprocation of the head for intermittently rotating said cam shaft for projecting said plungers into driving engagementwith said bars .respectively and in predetermined sequence.

\ 'L'In anattachmentfor a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to be reciprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel to said bars, a seriesof twin plungers each comprising a pair of opposed independently .operable sections slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted on said head adjacent 'said each series of plunger sections, a series of .Gams on each shaft, a pair of star wheels on thehead and operatively connected to said shafts respectively, and trip means including a. pair of abutments .respectively cooperating with said vstar wheels adjacent the limits of reciprocationof the head'forintermittently rotating said cam shafts for projecting said plunger sections into driving engagement with said bars respectively and in predetermined sequence.

8. In an attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity oi thread bars, adjustable end stops', and frictionally driven means Vfor reciprocating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to be reciprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel 'to said bars, means carried by said head for selectively connecting said bars thereto in predetermined sequence, trip means adjacent the limitsof` reciprocation of said head for actuating said selecting means, and means for setting said trip means in accordance with the setting of said end stops. q

9,; In van attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and 'frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars-between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head 'adapted to be reclprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel to said bars, means carried by said head for selectively connecting said bars thereto in predetermined sequence,l trip means adjacent the limits of reciprocation of said head for actuating said selecting means, means for setting said trip means in accordance with the setting of said end stops, and means for. synchronizing the setting movements of said trip means and the end stops.

10.'In an attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the. bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to be reciprocated by said frictionally driven means parallel to said bars, a series of plungers slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, 'a shaft rotatably mounted on said head adjacent said series of plungers, a series ot-camson saidishaft, trip means including a star wheel on the head and ya pair of abutments respectively positioned adjacent the limits of reciprocation of the head/ for intermittently rotating said cam shaft for projecting said plungers into driving engagement with said bars respectively and in predetermined sequence, and means for moving said abutments toward and away from each other parallel to the path of reciprocatory movement of the star wheel in accordance with the relative positions of said end stops.-

l1. An attachment for a. knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionallydrlven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops, said attachment comprising a slideway adapted to be positioned adjacent and parallel to said bars, a head slidably mounted in said slideway and overhanging said bars, means for operatively connecting said head to said frictionally driven means, a series of plungers slidably mounted in the overhanging portion of the head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head above said plungers, cams on said shaft for respectively prqiecting said plungers into driving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence, and means operable adjacent the limits of reciprocation of said head for intermittently rotating said cam shaft. 12. An attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, a friction box drive rod axially reciprocable parallel to said bars, a pair of friction boxes mounted on said rod, a head carried by one of said friction boxes and overhanging said bars, a series of plungers slidably mounted in said head perpendicular to said bars respectively, means on the head for projecting and retracting said plungers to and from driving engagement with said bars, and means carried by the second of ysaid friction boxes for actuating said plunger-operating means upon engagement of a driven bar with one of said end stops producing relative movement between said friction boxes on said drive rod.

13. An attachment for a knitting machine having a. multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops including an axially reciprocable drive rod adjacent and parallel to said bars, a pair of friction boxes mounted on said drive rod, a head carried by and slidably mounted on one of said friction boxes and overhanging said bars, a series of plungers slidably mounted in the head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head above said plungers, cams on said shaft for respectively projecting said plungers into driving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence, a star wheel rotatably mounted on said head and operatively connected to said cam shaft, and a pair of relatively spaced abutments carried by the second of said friction boxes and operable adjacent the limits of reciprocation of said head for alternately engaging the star wheel to effect intermittent rotation of the cam shaft by relative movement between saidv friction boxes on said drive rod.

14. An attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops, said at,- tachment comprising a slideway adapted to be positioned adjacent and parallel to said bars, a head slidably mounted in said slideway and overhanging said bars, means for operatively connecting said headV to said frictionally driven means, a series of plungers slidably mounted in the overhanging portion of the head perpendicular to said bars respectively. -a shaft rotatably mounted in said head above said plungers, cams on said shaft for respectively projecting said plungers into driving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence, a star wheel rotatably mounted on said head and operatively connected to said cam shaft, a pair of relatively adjustable abutments adjacent the limits of reciprocation of said head for alternately engaging the star wheel to effect intermittent rotation of the cam shaft, a guideway for slidably supporting said abutments,

a shaft having oppositely pitched screw portions threaded into said abutments respectively, and means for rotating the screw shaft for moving the abutments in accordance with relative adjustments of said end stops,

15. An attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops, said attachment comprising a slideway adapted to be positioned adjacent and parallel to said bars. a head slidably mounted in said slideway and overhanging said bars, means for operatively connecting said head to said frictionally driven means, a series of plungers slidably mounted in the overhanging portion of the head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a shaft rotatably mounted in said head above said plungers, cams on said shaft for respectively projecting said plungers into driving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence, a star wheel rotatably mounted on said head and operatively connected to said cam shaft, a pair of relatively adjustable abutments adjacent the limits of reciprocation of said head for alternately engsins the star wheel to eect intermittent rotation of the cam shaft, and means for supporting said abutments in a manner providing for movement of the abutments to inoperative podtious respectively and independently relative to the path of reciprocation of the star wheel.

16. An attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops, said attachment comprising a slideway adapted to be positioned adjacent and parallel to said bars, a

head slidably mounted in said slideway and overhanging said bars, means for operatively connecting said head to said frictlonally driven means, a series of plungers slldably mounted in the overhanging portion of the head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a frame pivotally mounted on said head, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, cams on said shaft for respectively projecting the plungers into -drlving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence, means adjacent the limits of reciprocation of the head for intermittently rotating the cam shaft, and means for swinging said frame in said head to move said cams to an inoperative position relative to said plungers.

1'1. An attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops, said attachment comprising a slideway adapted to be positioned adjacent and parallel to said bars. a head slidably mounted in said slideway and overhanging said bars, means for operatively 7s connecting said head to said frictionally driven means, a series of plungers slidably mounted in the overhanging portion of the head perpendicular to said bars respectively, a frame pivotally mounted on said head, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, cams on said shaft for respectively projecting the plungers into driving engagement with said bars in predetermined sequence, means adjacent the limits of reciprocation of the head for intermittently rotating the cam shaft, means for swinging said frame in said head to move said cams to an inoperative position relative to said piungers, a star wheel loosely mounted on the frame pivot, a gear wheel rigidly secured to the star wheel, a gear on the cam shaft meshing with said star wheel gear, and a pair of relatively movable abutments adjacent the limits of reciprocation of the star wheel respectively for intermittently rotating the cam shaft.

18. In an attachment for a knitting machine having a multiplicity of thread bars, adjustable end stops, and frictionally driven means for reciprocating the bars between the end stops; said attachment comprising a head adapted to be re- 19. In a fiat hosiery knitting machine pro vided with a reciprocable friction rod and a multiplicity of carrier rods, carrier rod driving mech anism comprising a friction device frictionally engaged with said friction rod, carrier rod driving means carried by said friction device and including a series of twin plungers each including a pair of independently movable sections, means upon each carrier rod for establishing a driving connection with said plunger sections of the driving means, selector cams adapted to move with said friction device and operated from a power member of the knitting machine, for selectively,

engaging and disengaging'the plunger sections of" said carrier rod driving means from the connecting means on the several carrier rods.

20. In a flat knitting machine provided with a reciprocable friction rod and carrier rods, carrier rod driving mechanism comprising a friction device frictionally engaged with said friction rod, a multiplicity of carrier rod driving means carried by said friction device, each of which is associated with a different carrier rod and includes independently movable plunger sections engageable with said associated carrier rod, means upon each carrier rod for establishing a driving connection with the plunger sections of the respective driving means, and means adapted to move with said friction device for independently engaging and disengaging each of said carrier rod driving means for moving the plunger sections thereof from the connecting means on the associated carrier rod.

FREDERICK C. GOOD. 

